Everybody makes mistakes. I know I do. I don't know why some schedulers just won't admit it when they err. Some of them double down and make things worse.

Two recent examples:

Scheduler #1 told me to do one thing when the client made a mistake. During a later round in the same project, the client made the same mistake. When I asked the scheduler if they wanted me to handle it the same way they told me to before, they told me to do something completely different. To make things worse, they claimed the exact opposite thing was what they told me to do last time. Then, in yet another later round, the same mistake occurred. Since the scheduler had told me two different things before, I asked to clarify which way they wanted me to handle the mistake. They admonished me for asking again, and again claimed (falsely) that they had already told me twice how to handle the situation.

And yes, all previous communications were via email. So, I had everything in writing.

In another example, I applied for a shop. Scheduler #2 did not assign the shop until the next day, but they assigned the shop for the day before. To make things worse, they then sent me an email less than an hour later, warning me that shop was overdue and said I must submit the report by a certain time that day. When I emailed them back and pointed out that they assigned the shop just that morning and the shop date was for yesterday, they made things worse by not apologizing or even acknowledging their mistake. Instead, they sent me a terse email back, asking when I could do the shop.

So, in both of these examples, the schedulers erred and "corrected" me for my "mistakes," but would not admit they were the ones who erred or acknowledge that I did not do anything wrong.

I won't stop shopping for these schedulers but I will surely think twice if shops are borderline appealing.

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

Everybody makes mistakes. I know I do. I don't know why some schedulers just won't admit it when they err. Some of them double down and make things worse.

Sorry this is happening to you. Just out of curiosity, did you reference/show the scheduler in Case 1 the chain of emails (to absolutely prove they gave contradictory advice, in case they were relying only on memory and making an honest error of recollection)? If so, and he/she still acted that way, then I'd agree that was unprofessional and unfriendly...etc. (etc. = they might have psychological or other issues).

Yes, this type of behavior happens in life. I have no idea why. I've experienced it numerous times and even made a comment on it in a recent thread about shopping bad customer service. It makes no logical sense, as sometimes the person will get mad AT YOU for bringing it up, when they are the one who should be apologizing.

It's always shocking and confusing at first. I question myself if I said or did something wrong. But after careful analysis, I realize these people have issues themselves. Maybe they were raised wrong by their parents (or not at all) and don't know how to socially and psychologically deal with such situations. Maybe they are ruthless business people, who never want to be nailed for doing something "wrong" (even a simple mistake) and try to shift the blame on others. Maybe they fear their supervisor/boss will punish them for it and will lie to blame you.

These people have issues. Do not trust them with anything important (even if you have to temporarily work with them). Document possible future issues (sounds like you already do). Pray for them (if you have belief in God). Continue to be professional yourself and lead by your example. People of integrity will over time recognize other people of integrity. You'll win other people's favor by establishing a good reputation for yourself. Those who are dishonest will sow a web of lies for themselves that will one day catch up to them and bring them down (be it losing a job, stalling out in their careers, or even prison). Be careful not to go down that path yourself. Guard your integrity!

I bet it's the way you come off. I've never had issues with a scheduler and I've made mistakes.

@ 007 wow. just wow.
so glad you have never had an issue with conflicting shop instructions. no need to gloat and gaslight the poster.

BusyBee, so sorry that happened to you. I've had similar things happen over the years. Some schedulers seem to think they hold life and death in their hands. Not easy to brush off and go on when you know you are right and they are wrong, but sometimes that's all you can do.

It's not just in ms-ing. You find such people in all walks of life and industries.

I happen to bump into them the most in the medical field (receptionists and billing staff). They can be rude and never, ever admit fault when it's easily proven they are wrong.

@OP: That is irritating and frustrating. I know it well. hmmph. Meanwhile, may I make a wee suggestion? Try to find other gigs. If you can add something else, you might find more pleasant conditions and get by with fewer of these frustrating events in your life.

@SS4U wrote:

@ 007 wow. just wow.
so glad you have never had an issue with conflicting shop instructions. no need to gloat and gaslight the poster.

It’s true. Some people don’t like to be criticized. If you point out their mistakes in a mean way, they will probably get hostile.

Actually, even as a boss, I never found a foolproof way to tell somebody they screwed up without...well, basically, upsetting them.

@SS4U Don't mind 007. They are upset at me because they PM'd me to ask me to send them my MS report and I pointed out I would not because that would violate my ICA with the MSC. They took offense that I also pointed out that I did not need their help. In response, they PM'd me again and called me a "Karen."

@SS4U wrote:

@ 007 wow. just wow.
so glad you have never had an issue with conflicting shop instructions. no need to gloat and gaslight the poster.

@shoptastic Thanks. Yes, I did reference the previous emails. I did not forward the emails to them because I thought that would be perceived as hostile. I also thought forwarding the emails might make them really defensive and cause irreparable harm to our working relationship. I made my points. They made theirs. At the end of the day, I was confident I did nothing wrong (because I had our previous discussions about the matter in writing). The important thing, to me anyway, was I now knew how they (and supposedly the client) wanted me to handle the matter. I won't have to ask again if the same mistake happens in a future round (and I suspect it will).

@guysmom Thanks. That's the approach I am taking. Deep breaths. Happy thoughts.

@guysmom wrote:

BusyBee, so sorry that happened to you. I've had similar things happen over the years. Some schedulers seem to think they hold life and death in their hands. Not easy to brush off and go on when you know you are right and they are wrong, but sometimes that's all you can do.

@007 wrote:

@SS4U wrote:

@ 007 wow. just wow.
so glad you have never had an issue with conflicting shop instructions. no need to gloat and gaslight the poster.

It’s true. Some people don’t like to be criticized. If you point out their mistakes in a mean way, they will probably get hostile.

It's true. For example, if a shopper who is completely unknown to you sends you a PM and offers to give you feedback on your report if you will send it to them, and you respond that you don't need their feedback and that you won't break your ICA by sending them your report, they may become hostile and call you "Karen." They may also post a hostile response to your post on a different topic.

@Shop-et-al wrote:

@OP: That is irritating and frustrating. I know it well. hmmph. Meanwhile, may I make a wee suggestion? Try to find other gigs. If you can add something else, you might find more pleasant conditions and get by with fewer of these frustrating events in your life.

Thanks for the good suggestion. I actually have a lot of other gigs. Whenever I feel frustrated/irritated enough with a scheduler, I just ignore their shop offers until I am over my frustration/irritation. There are very few schedulers on my 10-foot pole list. The good schedulers far outweigh the bad.

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

@SS4U Don't mind 007. They are upset at me because they PM'd me to ask me to send them my MS report and I pointed out I would not because that would violate my ICA with the MSC. They took offense that I also pointed out that I did not need their help. In response, they PM'd me again and called me a "Karen."

@SS4U wrote:

@ 007 wow. just wow.
so glad you have never had an issue with conflicting shop instructions. no need to gloat and gaslight the poster.

People never disappoint, do they?

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

@007 wrote:

@SS4U wrote:

@ 007 wow. just wow.
so glad you have never had an issue with conflicting shop instructions. no need to gloat and gaslight the poster.

It’s true. Some people don’t like to be criticized. If you point out their mistakes in a mean way, they will probably get hostile.

It's true. For example, if a shopper who is completely unknown to you sends you a PM and offers to give you feedback on your report if you will send it to them, and you respond that you don't need their feedback and that you won't break your ICA by sending them your report, they may become hostile and call you "Karen." They may also post a hostile response to your post on a different topic.

Like I said, it's the way you come off. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

@007 wrote:

Like I said, it's the way you come off. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Your approach/actions are disagreeable right now, 007. It's one thing to offer "help" to someone in doing reports, but if they decline (esp. for good and legitimate reason if in violation of ICA, but realize it can be awkward too if they don't know you...I wouldn't accept either), then it's best to leave it at that. No need to name call and no need to accuse them of coming off badly in a separate thread.

Take a step back, think of your actions, and realize you're in the wrong.

@shoptastic wrote:

@007 wrote:

Like I said, it's the way you come off. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Your approach/actions are disagreeable right now, 007. It's one thing to offer "help" to someone in doing reports, but if they decline (esp. for good and legitimate reason if in violation of ICA, but realize it can be awkward too if they don't know you...I wouldn't accept either), then it's best to leave it at that. No need to name call and no need to accuse them of coming off badly in a separate thread.

Take a step back, think of your actions, and realize you're in the wrong.

I'm just trying to help. This is just my honest opinion... that the way she comes across is bitter. So naturally, a scheduler is going to find her unappealing. Maybe she doesn't mean to come across the wrong way, but good tone in writing goes along way. You can point out errors without rubbing people the wrong way.

But... how did OP approach the scheduler? Did they approach in a businesslike way via those e-mails? (I would assume so, based upon other posts by this person.) By the time of the opening post, the OP was probably squicked to the max by an apparently ongoing issue. There was no need to disguise that. The OP can express themselves here in ways they cannot when communing with schedulers and others on the gigs, if not on the job. This is one reason the forum exists!

@007 wrote:

that the way she comes across is bitter.

She didn't come across at all bitter to me.

007 you need to stop with the gaslighting and victimization here. just stop it already !